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Reactions in Pakistan to news that Indian agent Kulbhushan Jadhav was handed a death sentence for espionage were largely nationalistic.

Analysts and politicians talking to mainstream television channels in Pakistan were unanimous in welcoming the decision. While some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship.

'There will be a reaction'

Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood said:

"For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation.

Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matte and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation.

The decision is right, it is by the law and justified in legal terms, however, we should brace ourselves as there will be reaction, on international forums and Pakistan should even be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations."

'No drastic change'

Political analyst Air Marshal (retired) Shahzad Chaudhry said:

"I do not think our ties with India would change as a result of this decision.

There are many other issues that the two countries have between them.

I think both countries should agree that there is much to be discussed and look past this and the situation would remain as it is, that would be the sensible thing to do."

'Pakistan should share evidence'

"First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally.

Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all.

If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing.

No political party or institution in Pakistan condemned the act. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kassab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law.

So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone."

'Pakistan shouldn't back down'

Senior PPP leader and Senator Rehman Malik said:

"We are a sovereign state and have a law that governs us. If the law has found Jadhav guilty then we have the right to sentence him to death and the sentence should be carried out.

We should not back down to any pressure, Indian or international and make sure that the sentence is carried out.

Those who are apprehensive about the move are forgetting that Modi openly admitted that India had a hand in breaking up Pakistan into two parts."

'Nation is united on decision'

Asad Umer, member Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf said:

“The whole nation will support the decision to hang Kulbhushan Jadhav, it is the right decision.

However, the time is right to bring up the matter of Indian interference in the UN now so that a sustainable solution to the problem can be sought."

'Sentence is a warning'

Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said:

"If India takes the matter up internationally Pakistan will defend its decision.

Kulbhushan's sentence is a warning for anyone with anti-Pakistan sentiment. The justice system will come down on people working to sabotage Pakistan with full force," Asif said while speaking to Geo News.

'RAW will go on back-foot after this'

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said:

“Of course the decision sends out a powerful message, it warns people against challenging the writ of the state. I think RAW will now go on the back-foot once the decision is carried out."

On DawnNews

Comments (44) Closed

Its modi at the centre and even indians are afraid of him. Nobody knows what will he do...just wait and watch

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Saaed

Apr 10, 2017 06:00pm

Pak India relations are already at worse. Buy trying to isolate Pakistan, India has lost any leverage over Pakistan to employ in this case. Pakistan has nothing to lose further.

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Chandra

Apr 10, 2017 06:05pm

Things spiral down and then the inevitable happens

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Masood Hussain

Apr 10, 2017 06:09pm

What is this issue?The person is aproven spy ,hi caught with evidence and must face tne consequsnces

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good

Apr 10, 2017 06:13pm

who cares Justice is justice

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Indian citizen

Apr 10, 2017 06:29pm

We have made it clear that Kulbushan Yadav is Indian citizen period. We don't disown people period.

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Nadeem

Apr 10, 2017 06:38pm

We don't care how the relations go, but we DO care about the human lives we lost due to this guy!

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not afraid

Apr 10, 2017 06:41pm

We are not afraid of the consequences is why we boldly said that Kulbushan Yadav is Indian citizen.

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Sat

Apr 10, 2017 06:43pm

Put the evidence against Kulbhushan in public domain. Let the world and India know the truth. Trying such cases in military courts will set a bad precedent.

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Vignesh

Apr 10, 2017 06:47pm

What is the crime he committed.... Just because he is an Indian doesn't prove his wrongdoing....

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dynamite

Apr 10, 2017 06:48pm

@Masood Hussain - aree bhai but no evidence was shared......Kasab had a trial lasting over 5 years and in a civil court with an appointed defence lawyer.

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ijaz

Apr 10, 2017 06:53pm

I don't think that when justice is meted out that we should consider "the reactions of India" or any other neighbour. As a result of this man's actions (directed by New Delhi) hundreds of people may have lost their lives due to terrorist acts. We need to keep a sense of perspective and also look to give justice to the VICTIMS of terrorism.

It will be shameful if we now play politics with the VICTIMS of terrorism by reaching some accommodation with India.

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KAMRAN

Apr 10, 2017 07:28pm

@Vignesh - V true.

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haider

Apr 10, 2017 07:36pm

It is a message for both India and Iran as he was operating through Iran.

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prove it

Apr 10, 2017 07:36pm

Prove it to the international community that Kulbushan Jadav is culprit.

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NP

Apr 10, 2017 07:36pm

If Pakistan send this man back to India, I am sure this would be goodwill gesture and India will respond positively, if otherwise, Indian stand going to harden and there would no talks in near future.

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BALOUCH

Apr 10, 2017 07:41pm

@Gaurav
Please do not threaten us here. We Pakistanis are very nice with nice people but very tough with those that try to hurt us. Enough said.

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Faris

Apr 10, 2017 07:43pm

What realtionship? We don't have any!

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Naveed

Apr 10, 2017 08:07pm

Do we have good relations? nothing at stake. Keep it up!!

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Raja farhat abbas

Apr 10, 2017 08:07pm

@BALOUCH ..Very well said my dear brother,proud of you.

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ahsan7979

Apr 10, 2017 08:15pm

At what cost does Pakistan want better relations with India? Do the indians think they can do anything and pull a blind curtain in front of the world?

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Anir

Apr 10, 2017 08:30pm

It looks so easy from the comments made here by the experts. I am sure a different reality will set in soon, as the current Indian government will not be able to keep quiet considering public pressure.

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Farhan

Apr 10, 2017 08:34pm

Nation unites on such issues but not on terrorism.

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Raj

Apr 10, 2017 08:35pm

@Masood Hussain - He has not been proved as a spy. NO public trial in courts were held and no evidences were published or shared. How can you call this a 'Proven spy'?

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Fi

Apr 10, 2017 09:06pm

What relations? There are no relations between the two countries so who cares!

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Bunny

Apr 10, 2017 09:12pm

@Raj he was not a civilian so he cannot be tried in civilian court. Get this straight.

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JA-AUSTRALIA

Apr 11, 2017 02:28am

Secret evidence is never made public in any country if it compromises the safety of informants. Indian government knows they got caught red handed. Indian media will throw a tantrum but, as they say, go buy a deck of cards and ... deal with it!

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noon

Apr 11, 2017 02:33am

To all Indian and Pakistanis saying here the trail should be public have no idea how espionage business works. If you read Indian Newspapers they also claim this man had Indian Passport with a different name, why did he have a different name on his passport ? Indians should ask their government that why did he have a passport with a different name ? I'm pretty sure this comment will not be published.

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Vijay

Apr 11, 2017 03:27am

@Faris Let's keep it that way

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mark St

Apr 11, 2017 04:15am

@dynamite Yes the evidences have been shared including confessional statement. If you want to act as a blind, it is your choice.

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Counterpoint

Apr 11, 2017 04:58am

I don't see a reason to hold any relationship between India & Pakistan. Complete shutdown of all levels of communication is what is needed.

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ANT

Apr 11, 2017 06:07am

@Bunny Was he caught in uniform or with any evidence that he was a serving officer. As for confessions, go to any thana in India or Pakistan and see how they will make you confess to anything!!

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KAMRAN

Apr 11, 2017 10:25am

@Sat Earlier Indian government did not accept him as Indian Citizen. Now Indian Gov. is accepting him as Indian Citizen.

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Human first

Apr 11, 2017 12:01pm

if it happens be sure there will be No more pak actors/artists and cricketers in India

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DK PAMNANI - INDIA

Apr 11, 2017 03:02pm

There is no relation between the two countries from 1947 and in future also, there will be no relations.

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Sam billings

Apr 11, 2017 03:49pm

@KAMRAN Indian Govt always accepted him to be her citizen.

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Usman

Apr 11, 2017 08:17pm

@NP theres nothing positive in India for Pakistan as it is.
India's and its peoples stance is already negative for Pakistan and Pakistanis.
There are no talks.
Useless argument.

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Mushirk

Apr 12, 2017 08:27am

@Fi in that case maybe India should abrogate all treaties say the Indus river treaty.

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SRIDHAR

Apr 12, 2017 02:06pm

If the court's verdict is implemented, series of revengeful actions will come to the fore from either side of the border.

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Atticus from india

Apr 12, 2017 02:50pm

Every deal with Pakistan, whether its the export of vegetables/essential commodities or sharing of water, needs fresh look.
Pakistani government has decided to ignore vienna convention and acted on their whims. It frees India to reconsider every treaty as India wants to.

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San

Apr 12, 2017 07:41pm

@Atticus from india

I agree..

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MUHAMMAD

Apr 13, 2017 01:37am

@NP, Musharraf pardoned an indian spy kashmir singh and as soon as he went to Chandigarh he confessed that he was indeed a spy and was given a hero's welcome. Same will happen for sure if Kulbhushan is released. Anyways its to early to say where this matter will go but Indo pak relations are laready at their worst the only thing left now is a full scale war but no one not even india and pakistan would want that. Maybe india may want to get his execution delay given the fact that pak govt too said that he wont be executed immidietly

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really?

Apr 13, 2017 03:53am

@KAMRAN "Earlier Indian government did not accept him as Indian Citizen."

False. India made request for consular access 13 times. It said that he was a retired navy officer. India simply said that he was not working for government after retirement.

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really?

Apr 13, 2017 03:55am

@JA-AUSTRALIA "Secret evidence is never made public in any country if it compromises the safety of informants."

Trial of foreign citizens needs to be in a civilian court. HE should be provided consular access per Viena conventions. This has nothing to do with any secret evidence. Kasab was also provided consular access and the transcripts of the court case were made available to Pakistan.